December 1992

This study investigates the perceptions of teachers, students and educational counsellors regarding the role and function of educational counsellors in credit course secondary schools in Kuwait. A field study was carried out in ten credit course secondary schools located across Kuwait's five educational geographical zones. A sample of 300 students, 300 teachers and 30 educational counsellors completed a twenty-item questionnaire, the data from which were analysed using the SPSS statistical package. Differences in perceptions were found between the three groups, suggesting role conflict and ambiguity.To obtain information about the actual role of educational counsellors, all 32 educational counsellors from all the credit course secondary schools in Kuwait were interviewed, and were asked to complete a checklist, and answer a time-scale questionnaire. The results confirmed the view that role conflict and ambiguity are impairing the performance and lowering the morale of educational counsellors. Possible causes of the conflict are identified, and recommendations made for modification of the guidance and counselling programmes.